Re: Eww

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Re: Eww
by A. C. on Saturday 15/Sep/2001, @20:48

I'm not saying I could do any better, but I know I couldn't do any worse.

I guess I should have entered the contest. All I would have had to do
was take a basic KDE theme, make it BUTT UGLY and submit it, thus
winning myself a few thousand dollars. =)

Related Links

·   Articles on Desktop Environment
·   Also by A. C.
·   Contact author

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Re: Eww
by Sertorius on Saturday 15/Sep/2001, @20:58

Well done IBM for sponsoring this and for donating money to open-source projects. Well done to the participants for having a go. However, if the aim was to create something either original or beautiful, then it has failed. Either there weren't many participants or the judges are colourblind (and are not aware of the existing range of KDE themes :-)

Are there any *original* themes out there? Something tasteful yet functional. I haven't seen too many KDE users using anything but the default theme (which looks bloody beautiful, thanks to Mosfet - a coder with artistic talent).

- Sertorius

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Re: Eww
by reihal on Sunday 16/Sep/2001, @00:20

Yeah, you're right, Mosfet rules!

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Re: Eww
by dfgsfg on Sunday 16/Sep/2001, @01:02

Yeah, his liquid theme is soooooooooooooooo much better than all of those!

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Re: Eww
by Carbon on Sunday 16/Sep/2001, @17:57

Well... that's cause liquid has it's own widget style, which actually recodes parts of the UI drawing system, as opposed to just setting pixmaps and colors to things.

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Re: Eww
by reihal on Monday 17/Sep/2001, @08:27

I remember seeing a Widget Designer on Mosfet's site a long time ago.
There was a screenshot, did anyone save this?
Maybe Mosfet himself could tell us about it?
Where are you, man?

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Re: Eww
by Vadim Plessky on Tuesday 18/Sep/2001, @14:06

> ...liquid theme is soooooooooooooooo much better than all of those!

Well, it's your opinion, and I deserve it.
And I think that Liquid sucks, in all its variants.
At least in its current state - may be in one year it will become better :-)

BR,

Vadim Plessky

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"originality" [Re: Eww]
by Vadim Plessky on Tuesday 18/Sep/2001, @14:16

> ... if the aim was to create something either original or beautiful, then it > has failed. Either there weren't many participants or the judges are colourblind

Do you seriously expect that some good designers will work for $3000, even if money is going into his pocket (not a charity to Open Source project)?
Besides, I can tell you that good designers just *can't* design themes.
They are ok to paint background, but nothing else...
User Interface is rather specific thing.
There is a limitation on screen size, resolution is pretty low, and many icons have just 16x16 size (hopefully, KDE supports 21x21 as well :-)
It's quite difficult in such environment to create something tasteful and working at the same time.

As about originality:
May I ask you *where* you have seen something similar to my Egypt Office theme?
I doubt you have ever been in Egypt. Taking into consideration current political situation in the Middle East, I doubt you will visit Egypt in nearest future. Colors are original, window decorations - original. layout - original.
I hope you have also tried complimentary Widget theme - at least Egypt widgets (not Egypt Office, but..) are available on my web site, and on apps.kde.com

Best Regards,

Vadim Plessky
http://kde2.newmail.ru

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Re: "originality" [Re: Eww]
by Sertorius on Tuesday 18/Sep/2001, @15:32

Going by the screenshot on the contest web site, I see only 3 of the 5 buttons on the top are original, making it look inconsistent, plus the scrollbars etc. look like they've been pinched from the SGI theme, just with a different colour. Likewise, apart from the colour, the panel is exactly the same as the standard one. The background is just the default KDE gradent... so from this it appears that the theme is just 3 new buttons and some new colours.

If OTOH you need some other bits to make this look decent then you should have included that in your theme package. If that was against the rules of the contest then it was a pointless contest... at least some open-source project got some funding I guess. I'll try your theme with the widget theme as well.

As to whether good designers will work for free, look at the fine work of Mosfet... some people (probably true for you as well I'd guess) do it for the love of the work. That's the same reason I write Free software...

- Sertorius

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Re: "originality" [Re: Eww]
by Vadim Plessky on Wednesday 19/Sep/2001, @23:38

> Going by the screenshot on the contest web site, I see only 3 of the 5 buttons on the top are original, making it look inconsistent, plus the scrollbars etc. look like they've been pinched from the SGI theme, just with a different colour. Likewise, apart from the colour, the panel is exactly the same as the standard one. The background is just the default KDE gradent... so from this it appears that the theme is just 3 new buttons and some new colours.
--
Ok, I see your point. And I agree that screenshot for my theme (Egypt-Office) on IBM site is not good, at all!
Unfortunately, there was no option to include "reference" URL with author's screenshot (in IBM KDE Theme Contest).
I am going to prepare such page ASAP and post URL here.
In the mean time, pls see attached screenshot from my original submission (no changes from May 31st, 2001!)

Cheers,
Vadim

Egypt-office.preview.png
60KB (62438 bytes)

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First check this, than blaim me!.. [Egypt-Office]
by Vadim Plessky on Wednesday 19/Sep/2001, @23:50

I think there is a basic misunderstanding between "what was supplied to the contests", contest's rules and user's expectations.
I'd like to clarify at least my work [Egypt-Office] and reasons for my participation.
First of all, look at attached *original* submission.
As dor.kde.org doesn't allow to attach two files, I will attach Widgtes theme in second posting, next to one.
I have to admit here that Widget Themes are much more complex that Window Decorations. I fact, I had to draw/paint around 75 pixmaps doing my theme, comparing to around 15 for Window Decorations.
Sorry that my Egypt Widget Theme is not shown on IBm site. :-((
Really sorry!
Please try this attachement, together with next one, and than start blaiming me!..
Thanks.

Yours,

Vadim Plessky

Egypt-office.ktheme
100KB (102645 bytes)

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Egypt Office - Widget Theme
by Vadim Plessky on Thursday 20/Sep/2001, @00:00

Here is a complementary Egypt Office Widget Theme. It should be used *together* with Window Decoration theme from me.
Screenshot (60k) is attached to my reply to mail from Sertorius.
So, you can try screenshot first, and if you like it - download both Widget and Window Decoration themes.
Note that there are two backgrounds included in my themes (textured dark brown color). If I remember correctly, first one is mapped to Desktop1, second - to Desktop2. So, switch between Desktop1 and Desktop2, and compare backgrounds.
(I supplied themes on May31st, 2001, so it's more than 3 months left, I don't remember such details...)

Thanks for trying my stuff!.. :-)

Vadim

P.S. You can find on my web site instructions how to install themes correctly.
URL: http://kde2.newmail.ru, "Themes" section.
For people who don't have time to browse my site, here is direct link:
http://kde2.newmail.ru/themes_install.html

Hope you willl find "missing 3 buttons" in title bar, after all. :-)

egypt-office-widgets.tar.gz
30KB (31451 bytes)

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Egypt Office - Widget Theme
by Vadim Plessky on Thursday 20/Sep/2001, @00:01

egypt-office-widgets.tar.gz
30KB (31451 bytes)

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